Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040
Polites baracoa
This record describes Polites baracoa (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The smallest Polites skipper in the US. Underwing is olive/brown with a rounded HW spot band that is more defined in females. Baracoa Skippers have an elaborate mating dance, facing each other, with antenna touching.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Polites
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open short grass areas.
Geographic Range
Florida, and also in Cuba and Hispaniola.
Seasonal Activity
March-October in northern Florida with several broods, overwinters as a larva. All year in southern Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grasses
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polites baracoa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joel Kits; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , tom murray
Frequently Asked Questions About Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040
What is Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040?
Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 (Polites baracoa) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040?
22-25mm wingspan
How do you identify Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040?
The smallest Polites skipper in the US. Underwing is olive/brown with a rounded HW spot band that is more defined in females.
Where is Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open short grass areas. |
| Range | Florida, and also in Cuba and Hispaniola. |
What does Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 eat?
The diet of the Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 includes Grasses.
When is Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040 active?
Baracoa Skipper - Hodges#4040: seasonal activity - March-October in northern Florida with several broods, overwinters as a larva. All year in southern Florida..